Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A magazine wants to include contributions from its readers for an article called 'The book that influenced me most'.

Write a letter to the editor of the magazine about the book that influenced you most. In your letter

- describe what this book was about
- explain how this book influenced you
- say whether this book would be likely to influence other people

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Dear Sir,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this email about 'The book that influeneced me the most'.

Firstly, I would like to mention that book was so interesting. I enjoyed a lot about the story that influence the boy to reach his goal. Secondly, how the boy work hard for reaching his goal and in last he will get what he wants and not only he achieved his goal but also he got his dream job in abroad influenced me a alot. Lastly, I would like to say that this book would influence other people as well because this book contains the importance of life and about how to achieve your goals in life. I hope you will like my contributions for an article.

Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,

Priya

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address the three requested points: you mention a boy pursuing a goal, explain that his hard work and eventual dream job influenced you, and say the book could influence others. However, the book itself is not identified, and its subject is described only briefly, so the reader learns little about what happens or why it matters. The influence on you is also stated rather than illustrated with a specific change in your thinking or actions. The response is 14 words below the required minimum, which limits the opportunity to develop these ideas. Add the title and author, give a clearer account of the story, and explain a concrete effect it had on you.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable opening, body, and closing, and the sequence from describing the story to discussing its influence is generally understandable. The signposts “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Lastly” help show the intended order, but they make the short body feel like a list rather than a developed letter. The second point is packed into one long sentence, while the final sentence repeats “this book” and “influence” without adding much progression. Use separate paragraphs for the book’s content, its effect on you, and its likely effect on readers. Linking ideas through cause and result, rather than relying mainly on numbered transitions, would make the progression clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the basic topic, with relevant phrases such as “reach his goal,” “dream job,” and “importance of life.” However, the range is limited and several expressions are repetitive or imprecise, particularly repeated uses of “goal,” “influence,” and “this book.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice problems, including “influeneced” and “a alot,” which reduce the polish of the letter. More precise language would help you describe the story and its effect, for example by naming the qualities the boy demonstrates or the lesson you took from it. Aim for natural collocations and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “not only he achieved his goal but also he got his dream job.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some parts awkward. For example, “how the boy work hard” needs a past-tense verb, and “I enjoyed a lot about the story” has an incorrect grammatical pattern. “I would like to mention that book” also needs an article or clearer reference. Practise building accurate past-tense sentences to describe the plot, and check article use and clause structure. Shorter, well-controlled sentences would improve clarity while you develop more complex forms.

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